Mounting apparatus for storage device

ABSTRACT

A mounting apparatus includes a bracket for receiving a storage device, and a latching member. The bracket includes a sidewall, and a top wall perpendicular to the sidewall. The latching member includes a main body pivotably fixed to the sidewall of the bracket, and a latching portion retainable on the top wall of the bracket. The main body forms two pins to extend through the bracket for fixing the storage device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to mounting apparatuses, and moreparticularly to a mounting apparatus for a storage device.

2. Description of Related Art

An electronic apparatus, such as a typical desktop computer, a towercomputer, a server, and the like, usually includes storage devices, suchas hard disk drives, compact disk read-only memory (CD-ROM) drives,digital video disc (DVD) drives, floppy disk drives, and the like. Thesedevices are typically added to increase the functionality of theelectronic apparatus as desired by a user. However, the installation ofsuch devices in the electronic apparatus is always labor-intensive.

The installation of a hard disk drive in a computer typically involvesthe use of screws to attach the hard disk drive to a bracket of acomputer chassis. However, these screws are usually too small anddifficult to handle. Additionally, because of their small size, thescrews are easily dropped, by an assembler, into the computer.

To address the aforementioned problems, a plurality of mountingapparatuses is invented to reduce the number of needed screws. Forexample, a pair of detachable rails is attached to opposite sides of astorage device with screws. The storage device is then slid into andsecured to a drive bracket. However, the screws have to be removed todetach the rails from the storage device before replacing the storagedevice.

What is needed, therefore, is a mounting apparatus which facilitatesconvenient and secure mounting of a storage device in a bracket.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An exemplary mounting apparatus includes a bracket for receiving astorage device, and a latching member. The bracket includes a sidewall,and a top wall perpendicular to the sidewall. The latching memberincludes a main body pivotably fixed to the sidewall of the bracket, anda latching portion retainable on the top wall of the bracket. The mainbody forms two pins to extend through the bracket for fixing the storagedevice.

Other advantages and novel features will become more apparent from thefollowing detailed description of preferred embodiment when taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded, isometric view of a mounting apparatus with astorage device in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the presentinvention, the mounting apparatus including a bracket, and a latchingmember;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged isometric view of the latching member of FIG. 1,but viewed from another aspect;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged isometric view of the bracket of FIG. 1, butviewed from another aspect; and

FIG. 4 is an assembled view of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIG. 1, a mounting apparatus for a storage device isprovided in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the presentinvention. The mounting apparatus includes a bracket 30 for receiving astorage device 20, and a latching member 40 for fixing the storagedevice 20 to the bracket 30. The storage device 20 defines a pair offixing holes 22 in a lateral side thereof.

Referring also to FIG. 3, the bracket 30 includes a first sidewall 31, asecond sidewall 33, and a top wall 34 connecting with the first andsecond sidewalls 31, 33. Two openings are defined in two ends of thebracket 30 respectively. One of the openings acts as an entrance for thestorage device 20 entering the bracket 30, and two opposite stop plates36 are formed on ends of the first sidewall 31 and the second sidewall33 respectively adjoining the other one of the openings. A pair ofthrough holes 336 are defined in the second sidewall 33, correspondingto the fixing holes 22 of the storage device. Two spaced tabs 338 arepunched outward from the second sidewall 33 substantially between thethrough holes 336. Two spaced fixing portions 332 protrudeperpendicularly outward from the second sidewall 33 below the throughholes 336, and each fixing portion 332 defines a pivot hole 334 therein.An aperture 344 (see FIG. 1) is defined in the top wall 34 adjacent thethrough holes 336 of the second sidewall 33.

Referring also to FIG. 2, the latching member 40 includes a main body42, and a latching portion 44 extending perpendicularly inward from oneend of the main body 42. Two pivot portions 422 extend perpendicularlyoutward from two lateral surfaces of the main body 42 adjacent the otherend thereof, and a pivot 424 protrudes outward from each pivot portion422. Two slots 426 are defined in the main body 42 corresponding to thetabs 338 of the second sidewall 33 of the bracket 30. Two pins 428extend perpendicularly inward from the main body 42 corresponding to thethrough holes 336 of the second sidewall 33. Two dome-shaped protrusionsacting as blocks 442 are formed on an inside surface of the latchingportion 44. An operating portion 446 is bent outward from the latchingportion 44.

Referring further to FIG. 4, in assembly, the pivot portions 422 of thelatching member 40 are positioned between the fixing portions 332 of thesecond sidewall 33 of the bracket 30, and the pivots 424 of the pivotportions 422 engage in the pivot holes 334 of the fixing portions 332respectively. The latching member 40 is thus pivotably fixed to thebracket 30 and is pivotable relative to the bracket 30 between anunlocked position and a locked position.

In use, the latching member 40 is pivoted to the unlocked position, thestorage device 20 is installed into the bracket 30 from the entrancethereof. When an end of the storage device 20 abuts against the stopplates 36 of the bracket 30, the fixing holes 22 of the storage device20 align with the through holes 336 of the second sidewall 33 of thebracket 30 respectively. The latching member 40 is rotated toward thebracket 30, the tabs 338 of the second sidewall 33 of the bracket 30engage in the slots 426 of the latching member 40 respectively, and thepins 428 of the latching member 40 are extended through the throughholes 336 of the second sidewall 33 and engage in the fixing holes 22 ofthe storage device 20 respectively. The blocks 442 of the latchingportion 44 of the latching member 40 engage in the aperture 344 of thetop wall 34 of the bracket 30, for retaining the latching member 40 onthe bracket 30. The storage device 20 is thus fixed to the bracket 30 atthe locked position.

To detach the storage device 20 from the bracket 30, the operatingportion 446 of the latching member 40 is pulled up, and the blocks 442of the latching member 40 are disengaged from the aperture 344 of thetop wall 34 of the bracket 30. The latching member 40 is rotatedrelative to the bracket 30 to the unlocked position. The pins 428 of thelatching member 40 are disengaged from the fixing holes 22 of thestorage device 20 and withdrawn from the through holes 336 of thebracket 30. The tabs 338 of the second sidewall 33 of the bracket 30 aredisengaged from the slots 426 of the latching member 40. The storagedevice 20 is ready to be detached from the bracket 30.

It is believed that the present embodiment and its advantages will beunderstood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent thatvarious changes may be made thereto without departing from the spiritand scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its materialadvantages, the example hereinbefore described merely being preferred orexemplary embodiment of the invention.

1. A mounting apparatus for a storage device, the mounting apparatuscomprising: a bracket for receiving the storage device, the bracketcomprising a first sidewall, a second sidewall, and a third wallconnecting with the first sidewall and the second sidewall, the firstsidewall defining two through holes therein; and a latching memberinstallable to the bracket, the latching member comprising a main bodyand a latching portion integral with the main body, the main bodyforming two pins to extend through the through holes of the bracketrespectively for fixing the storage device, the latching portionconfigured to engage with a component of the mounting apparatus otherthan the first sidewall of the bracket for retaining the latching memberon the bracket.
 2. The mounting apparatus as claimed in claim 1, whereinthe component is the third wall, the third wall has an aperture definedtherein, the latching portion extends perpendicularly from an end of themain body, and a block is formed on the latching portion for engaging inthe aperture.
 3. The mounting apparatus as claimed in claim 2, whereintwo spaced fixing portions protrude outward from the first sidewall ofthe bracket, each of the fixing portions defines a pivot hole, two pivotportions extend perpendicularly from the main body adjacent another endthereof, and each of the pivot portions forms a pivot for engaging inthe corresponding pivot hole.
 4. The mounting apparatus as claimed inclaim 1, wherein two slots are defined in the main body of the latchingmember, and two spaced tabs extend outwardly from the first sidewall ofthe bracket for engaging in the corresponding slots.
 5. The mountingapparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein an operating portion is bentoutward from the latching portion of the latching member.
 6. Themounting apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein two openings aredefined in two ends of the bracket respectively, and two opposite stopplates are formed on the bracket adjoining one of the openings, forabutting against the storage device.
 7. A mounting apparatus for astorage device, the mounting apparatus comprising: a bracket forreceiving the storage device, the bracket comprising a sidewall and atop wall perpendicular to the sidewall; and a latching member comprisinga main body pivotably fixed to the sidewall of the bracket, and alatching portion configured to be retainable on the top wall of thebracket, the main body forming a pin to extend through the bracket forfixing the storage device.
 8. The mounting apparatus as claimed in claim7, wherein the top wall has an aperture defined therein, the latchingportion extends from an end of the main body, and a block is formed onthe latching portion for engaging in the aperture.
 9. The mountingapparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein two spaced fixing portionsprotrude outwardly from the sidewall of the bracket, and each of thefixing portions defines a pivot hole, two pivot portions extendperpendicularly from the main body adjacent the other end thereof, andeach of the pivot portions forms a pivot for engaging in the pivot holeof a corresponding fixing portion.
 10. The mounting apparatus as claimedin claim 7, wherein the sidewall of the bracket defines a through holein a manner so as to allow the pin of the latching member to engagetherein.
 11. The mounting apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein aslot is defined in the main body of the latching member, and a tabextends outwardly from the sidewall of the bracket for engaging in theslot.
 12. The mounting apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein twoopenings are defined in two ends of the bracket respectively, and a stopplate is formed on the bracket adjoining one of the openings, forabutting against the storage device.
 13. A mounting apparatus mountingtherein a storage device which defining at least one fixing hole at onesidewall thereof, comprising: a mounting bracket configured toaccommodate the storage device therein, the bracket comprising a firstwall facing the sidewall of the storage device and a second wallperpendicular to the first wall, the first wall defining at least onethrough hole and the second wall defining an aperture; a latching memberpivotably mounted to the bracket, the latching member comprising a mainbody having at least one locking pin extending through the at least onethrough hole to engage in the at least one fixing hole, and a latchingportion having a retaining part detachably engaging with the bracket inthe aperture to retain the latching member to the bracket.
 14. Themounting apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein the main body ispivotably mounted to the first wall via a pair of pivots pivotablyreceived in a pair of pivot holes.
 15. The mounting apparatus as claimedin claim 14, wherein the main body defines a slot between the pivots,and the first wall comprises a tab stamped outwardly therefrom forextending through the slot.
 16. The mounting apparatus as claimed inclaim 13, wherein the latching member has a substantially L shape andthe latching portion extends perpendicularly from the main body.
 17. Themounting apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein the latching memberis unitary.
 18. The mounting apparatus as claimed in claim 17, wherein afree end of the latching portion opposing the main body is folded toform an operating portion.
 19. The mounting apparatus as claimed inclaim 17, wherein the mounting bracket comprises a pair of oppositeopening ends, one of the opening ends acting as an entrance for thestorage device entering into the bracket, the mounting bracket furthercomprising a pair of stop plates extending into the other one of theopening ends for abutting against the storage device.
 20. The mountingapparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein the retaining part comprises adome-shaped protrusion stamped from the latching portion toward thesecond wall.